Signs and Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve in your hand gets excessive pressure on your carpal tunnel passageway that is very narrow and surrounded by ligaments and bones on the bottom of your palm. During compression on that nerve, you can experience tingling, weakness, and numbness in the arm and/or hand. As an orthopedic surgeon in Debary, we help diagnose and treat pain in the joints and issues such as carpal tunnel syndrome. This syndrome is commonly caused by health problems, the wrist's anatomy, and even some repetitive hand/arm motions.
Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
When it comes to identifying if you have carpal tunnel syndrome, nothing beats a medical professional's opinion. Before you head to the doctor, you should know what signs you should look for that may indicate you have carpal tunnel syndrome. Common symptoms include:
- Tingling
- Numbness
- Pain
- Burning Sensation
- Weakness
- Fingers feeling swollen when they are not
- Shocks coming and going in fingers and thumbs
These symptoms will normally start gradually, and they can impact your life before you know it.
Overall Weakness
If you feel weakness, you may find yourself dropping things or items slipping from your fingers when you feel like you should have had a better grip. Your ability to pinch may be affected and this can greatly reduce quality of life.
Numbness & Tingling
Your numbness and tingling will be more in the fingers and hand. The little finger is the least likely to feel any symptoms. Often times, these sensations can resemble an electric shock in the fingers affected.
Many of the sensations you experience can travel from your fingertips to your shoulder. Holding phones, steering wheels, newspapers, gaming controllers, or even remotes can cause you to experience these sensations. Sometimes it can wake people up from sleep. Often times, individuals will shake their hand to relieve the sensations. But it is likely that they will only become more constant over time.
Swollen Fingers
The feeling of your fingers being swollen, though their appearance says otherwise, is a sign of carpal tunnel syndrome. This bloated, restricting feeling is concerning and often times uncomfortable. However, cases that are more severe can cause muscle loss at the thumb base of your hand. It can also cause you to have issues identifying cold and hot temperatures by touch.
If you are experiencing these symptoms, it is best to make an appointment with our orthopedic surgeon in Debary. Treatment and other solutions are available. Do not wait until the pain and aches are so severe that it is almost debilitating. By understanding how to treat your carpal tunnel syndrome, you can live a comfortable and pain-free life.